Printer with shifting printing means



March 11, 1958 H. s. BEATTIE PRINTER WITH SHIF'TING PRINTING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet l 'COLS 3-4 COLS77-78=5= COLS 79-80 COLS 1-2 fllllllllllllll INVENTOR. HORACE $.BEATTIE FIG. 1

ATTORNEY March 11, 1958 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 HQRACE $.BEATHE ATTORNEY March 1 1, 1958 H. s. BEATTIE 2,826,139

PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 INVENTOR.

HORACE S. BEATTIE FIG. 3

garm- ATTORNEY March 11, 1958 H. s. BEATTIE 2,826,139

PRINTER WITH SHIFIING PRINTING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 INVENTOR.

- HORACE s. BEATTIE ATTORNEY March 11, 1958 I H. s. BEATTIE I 2,826,139

PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 Q SheetS-Sheet 5 7 6 SPACES I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY HORACE s. BEATTIE March 11, 1958 I H. s. BEATTIE- PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. HORACE S BEATTIE I f #M ATTORNEY I March 11, 1958' H. s. BEATTIE PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. '25, 1954 x x x o x x x m x x w x. x N x w x x x m x x x x n x N x v mo mm wmQ mm mmoadw muo 1w m w m o o m m o m #3 mm 11 ZQtmOm FZEA mmhwm vmm F GE March 11, 1958 H. s. BEATTIE 2,825,139

PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 INVENTOR. HORACE S.BEATT|E ATTORNEY t m m C m N m m ON Q 943 N? O. m w v N mm on mm mm QNNN ON 2 9 3 m United States Patent PRINTER WITH SHIFTING PRINTING MEANS Horace S. Beattie, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1954, Serial No. 452,156

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates to a printing machine and more particularly to a serial parallel type of printing machine wherein all characters in alternate print positions of a given line are printed simultaneously followed by the simultaneous printing of all characters in intermediate alternate print positions.

In the type of machine described hereinafter, a plurality of elongated members carrying sets of print elements are provided and are selectively displaced discrete distances longitudinally to bring appropriate character elements to a print position. Heretofore, it has been customary to provide a character strip for each column to be printed resulting in unnecessary duplication of parts. The improved device remedies to a large extent the duplication of parts. A number of character strips equal to half the desired number of print columns are provided. Each strip is positioned during a first print cycle in the odd numbered print positions and is shifted to the right to the adjacent even numbered print positions during a second print cycle. In this way, for example, forty character strips suffice for eighty print columns.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved serial-parallel printer.

Another object of this invention is to greatly reduce the number of parts required for a printer of a given printing column capacity.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a printer wherein each character strip is adapted to print alternately in two adjacent columns.

Yet another object is to greatly reduce the number of parts of serial-parallel printer.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

As illustrated in the preferred embodiment, this device has a card supply hopper for holding the prepunched cards into which the data to be printed has been punched in code. A feed mechanism is provided to feed the cards serially from the hopper past a first read station where the odd numbered columns are sensed, and then past a second read station where the even numbered columns are sensed.

Mechanisms for positioning the print element strips are provided and are controlled by timed impulses from the reading of the card perforations. A type hammer is operated from a constantly running shaft and cam means are provided for alternately shifting the character'strips for printing in adjacent columns. Ribbon and paper feeding means are provided.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a combined wiring diagram and a schematic showing of the card feeding and sensing unit and the mo tive power for the machine.

Figure 2 shows the gear and shaft power train and the staggered positions of the set up units on an upper and a lower level.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 illustrating the power train and the plurality of pairs of cams for transmitting the power to each set up unit.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a single set-up unit shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a view of the mechanism for longitudinally positioning a print element strip in response to the actuation of the set-up units shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the machine taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2. t

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the coded set-up slide shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Figure 8 indicates the code that is built into the slide of Fig. 7.

Figure 9 illustrates a single print element strip.

Figure 10 is a top view of the machine.

Figure 11 is a detail View of the record and ribbon advancing mechanisms.

Figure 12 is a timing chart.

Referring to Fig. 1, a motor 1 is suitably mounted on the frame of the machine. A motor shaft 2 carries a worm 3 that meshes with a Worm gear 4 that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 6 that is journaled in the machine frame. A clutch disc 7 having a notch 8 that is adapted to be engaged by a dog 9 is fixed to the gear 4. The dog 9 is pivotally mounted on the arm 11 that is fixed to the shaft 6. A latch 12 that is pivotally supported at a point 13 is adapted to engage a tail portion of the dog 9 and the end of the arm 11 to hold the dog 9 disengaged from the notch 8 against the action of a spring 14-, and to prevent the arm 11 from rotating. An electro-niagnet 16 is positioned adjacent the latch 12 and, when energized, attracts the latch 12 and releases the dog 9 and the arm 11. The dog 9, compelled by the spring 14-, engages the notch 8 providing a driving connection from the gear 4 through the disc 7, the dog 9, and the arm 11 to the shaft 6 that is rotated in a clockwise direction. The arm 11 and dog 9 rotate with the gear 4 until the magnet 16 is deenergized at which time the latch 12 pivots back into the paths of the dog 9 and arm 11, under compulsion of a spring 17, withdrawing the dog 9 from the notch 8 and stopping the rotation of the shaft 6.

A bevel gear 21 is mounted on the shaft 6 and meshes with a second bevel gear 22 that is fixed to a shaft 23 disposed at 90 to the shaft 6. A bevel gear 24 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 23 and meshes with a bevel gear 26 fixed to a shaft 27. The shaft 27 has a circular disc 28 fixed to the opposite end thereof and has a rod 29 pivotally pinned thereto in an off-center position. The opposite end of the rod 29 is pivotally pinned to a lever 31, the lower end of which is pivotally pinned to a stationary frame member and the upper end of which is connected to a feed knife 32. The feed knife 32 is positioned adjacent a card hopper 33 and is adapted, when given a reciprocating motion by the rotation of the gear 26 and the disc 28, to feed cards 34 serially from the hopper 33 into a pair of feed rolls 36, the lower one of which is driven from the shaft 23 through bevel gears 37. From the feed rolls 36, the cards are fed over a metal contact roll 38 journaled in the machine frame and which may be suitably geared to the shaft 23. The cards are fed into a second set of feed rolls 39 that are driven from the shaft 23 through bevel gears 41, thence over a second contact roll 42 that may be mounted and driven similarly to the roll 38, and into a third set of feed rolls 43 that are driven from the shaft 23 through bevel gears 44. As each card leaves the feed rolls 43, it drops into a receptacle that is not shown.

Above the contact roll 38 and in contact therewith are mounted forty brushes 46 that are positioned to sense perforations in the odd numbered columns of the usual & punched card. Similarly, forty brushes 47 are mounted above the contact roll 42 to sense perforations in the even numbered columns of a card.

A bevel gear 51 is mounted on the opposite-end ofjthe shaft 6 and meshes with a bevel gear 52thatis mounted on a vertical shaft 53. Referring to Figs. ,-2-an'd 3,z;the shaft 53 is mounted by means of brackets 54 and bearings 56 on a side frame piece-57. A pair of bevel-gears 58 are mounted on the shaft 53 and mesh xwithtbevel gears 59 that are mounted on shafts 61 journaledin the side frame pieces '7. A plurality of pairs of cams 63 and 64 are mounted on the shafts 61 between-plates 62 that are mounted on cross pieces 66 between the'fr-ame pieces 57 as shown in Fig. 2.

Two of a plurality of character selection mechanisms. an end view of which is shown in Fig. 6, are shown in Fig. 2. A character selection unit is generally designated 65. It is necessary to distribute these selection mechanisms on two levels in ,a staggered 'fashioneas shown in Fig. 6 in order to mount the required number of units in the available space. The description of one ofit-heunits 65 will suffice for all since all are identical.

Referring to Fig. 4, the plate 62 is mounted on the cross pieces 66 as described. The shaft 61 and :cams 63 and 64- are driven constantly by the motor 1 when the clutch 7 is engaged. A lower or actuating slide :68 is slidably mounted on the plate 62 by means of two;studs 69 and two slots 70 and is biased to the left by a spring 72 that is fastened to the plate 62 by .a stud 72A. Four lugs 71 extend from the top edge of the slide :68. A cam roller 73 is rotatablymounted on the left end of the slide 66 and rides on the cam 63. For each revolution of the cam 63, the slide 68 oscillates first to :the rightandthen back to the left.

A second slide 76 that is slidably mounted on the plate 62 by means of two pairs of brackets 74 is biased to the right by a spring 77 that is fastened to a stud 78 on the plate 62. A cam follower arm 7 9 that is pivotally mounted by a pin 81 on the plate 62 has a cam roller 82rotatably mounted thereon that rides on the cam 64-. An upper cam arm 79A is mounted on the pivot .81 on the back side of the plate 62 to avoid interfering with other working parts.

When the cam 64 rotates, the cam follower arms 79 and 79A oscillate and transfer the oscillating movement to the slide 76 through a stud 83 that is afiixed to the slide 76 and extends through a slot 84 in the plate 62 to intercept the arm 79A. The slide 68 is bent away from the plate 62 at a point designated 85 to provide clearance for the cam follower arm 79. A series of coded notches 86 are formed in the lower edge of the slide 76 and three lugs 87 and an offset portion-thatalso is designated 67 extend from the top of the slide 76.

Four bell cranks 96A, B, C and D are pivotally and shiftably mounted on the plate 62 by means of pins 88 and elongated holes 89. Each crank 90 is guided at two points HA and 91B by a comb member '92-that is affixed to the plate 62. Each crank 90 is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 93.

Four other bell cranks 95A, B, C and D are pivotally mounted on the plate 62 by studs 94. Each bell crank 95 has a pulley 97 pivotally mounted thereon. A lug 98 on each bell crank 95 engages a lug '99 on each corresponding bell crank 90. Another lug 101 on each bell crank 65 rests on a stop member 102 that is mounted on the plate 62. The bell cranks 95 are biased in a counterclockwise direction against the stop members 102 by springs 163.

A steel wire166 that is afiixed to the plate 62.at points 167 and 168 passes over a pulley 109 on one arm ;of a lever 111 that is pivotally mounted on the plate 62 by a pin 112 and is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 113. From the pulley 169, the wire 106 passes .over the pulleys 97 as shown in Fig. 4. A lower arm '111Aof '4 the lever 111 serves as the armature for an electromagnet 114 that is mounted on the plate 62.

Four bell cranks 113A, B, C and D are pivotally mounted on pins 119 that extend through slots 121 in the plate 62. The cranks 118 are biased in a counterclockwise direction by springs .122 against stop studs 123 that are mounted on the plate'62. Referring to Fig. 5, the mechanism shown is mounted on the backside of the plate 62 and co-operates with the mechanism shown in-Fig. 4. The pins 119, Figs. 4 and Spare .pivoted'in bell cranks 126A, B, C and D that are pivotally mounted on the plate 62 by stu'ds 127. 'Pivotally mounted on the four cranks 126 are fivepulleys 12$. Asteelwire 129 is affixed to the, plate .62 by a nut 131 and passes over the pulleys 128 as shown in "Fig.5, and over two pulleys 132 that are pivotally mounted on the plate 62. The wire 129 passes from the last pulley 132 over a pulley 133 pivotally mounted on a shaft 133Ajournaled in'the frames 57 as. shown in'Figs..:5 andilO. A type:element strip 134 is affixed to the free 'end.of the wire 129 and, from the other end of the strip 134,.a wire 135 passes over a pulley 136 pivotally mounted on ashaft 136A journaled in the frames 57 as shown in Figs. .3 and 10. The other end .of the wire 135 is yieldinglyaffixedby means of a spring 137 to a.lug:66A carried by one of the cross pieces66. Fig. 6 is aleft end view .of a plurality of the above described setvup and positioning mechanisms. that are :mounted on theplates 62.

Referring to'Fig. 7, the coded slide 76 is. shown in detail andin Fig. :8 the slide code is indicated. .It will be noted in Fig. 7'that the slide is divided into foursections A, B, C and D,;each section having eleven sub-divisions. Each numeral, zero through nine, is represented by a notch 86 in one or more of thefour sections as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. For example, azero is represented by notches in sections A, B and C, whereas a one is represented by a single notch in sectionD.

The numerals are arranged on the type element strips serially from one through zero as indicated in Fig. 9. The location of the notches in the slide '76 is dependent on the order of the numerals on the type strip'an'dunits of movement of the various bell cranks 126 as indicated in Fig. 8. When it is actuated, the bell'crank -126A:moves the type strip two units of space, the1crank' 126B moves the strip 6 units of space, the crank 126C 'movesthe strip 2 units of space and the crank 126D moves the strip one unit of space. T he variations in movementsare determined by the difl'erences in the lengths of'the lever arms 126 from the pivot points 127 to the-:pulleys 128 and from the pivot points 127 to the pins 119. Any desired increment of movement is obtained by actuating one or more of the bell cranks 126 whereby the units of movement of the actuated bell cranks accumulate to the desired total movement.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the slides 68 and '76 reciprocate constantly in response to the rotation of the cams 63 and 64. The slides move to the right with the slide 76 leading the slide 68 due to the configuration of the cams 63 and 64. On the return to the left, the slide 68 leads the slide 76 for reasons that will be explained.

The movement of the slide 76 to the right is snychronized with the passage of a card under the. first reading brushes 46. When a'hole is sensed in a card column corresponding to a particular one of the odd numbered set up units 65, the magnet 114 .for that particular unit is energized. For example, suppose a 5 hole is punched in column 1; the slide positions 9, 8, 7 and 6 pass by the point immediately above the lugs 98 on .the bell cranks 95, and at the instant the 5 hole is sensed, the 5 positions of the slide 76 are positioned directly above the lugs 98. Due to the contact made by the columnl brush 46 to the contact roll 38, the magnet 114 is energized and attracts its armature 111A. .The pivoting of :the armature 111A and the arm 111 swings the 'pulley 109 to the left and causes, in effect, a shortening of the wire 166 that tends to pivot each .bell crank 95 clockwise. At the instant that 5 positions of the slide 76 are positioned above the lugs 98 of hell cranks 95A, B, C and D. In the sections A, C and D of the slide 76, there are notches 36 in the 5 position and the bell cranks 95A, C and D are allowed to pivot because the associated lugs 8 enter the three notches 86. The fourth bell crank 95B cannot pivot due to the absence of a notch 86. When the bell cranks 95 pivot, the lugs 98 slip off the lugs 99 of the bell cranks 96A, C and D which then pivot in a clockwise direction under tension of their springs 93. Protruding at right angles from the extreme right ends of the cranks 9ft, Fig. 4-, are lugs 141. When the cranks 9d pivot in a clockwise direction these lugs 141 strike the bell cranks 118A, C and D causing the latter also to pivot in a clockwise direction. After the slide 76 has traversed all of the notch positions from nine through zero, the lugs 71 of the slide 68 that also is moving to the right, reach step portions 14-2 that are formed in the cranks 118. The step-portions 142 of the actuated cranks 118A, C and D are in the paths of the slide lugs 71 and are struck thereby and driven to the right. The movement of the cranks 118A, C and D is transferred through the respective pins 119 to the bell cranks 126A, C and D on the back side of the plate 62 as shown in Fig. 5. The cranks 126A, C and D are pivoted in a counterclockwise direction thereby effectively shortening the wire l29 by five units, two units due to the pivoting of the crank 126A, two units due to the pivoting of the crank 126A, and one unit due to the pivoting of the crank 126D. The corresponding type element strip 134 is consequently shifted five units to the right thereby positioning the number 5 type element in alignment with a print line. A print hammer 222 is actuated in a manner described hereinafter thereby printing a number 5.

The cams 63 and 6d continue to rotate and, with the lower slide 68 leading, the slides return to the left. As the four vertical surfaces 87 that extend from the top of the slide 76 reach the assumed position of the actuated bell cranks 90A, C and D, the surfaces 87 engage lugs 143 that are formed at right angles to the extreme upper ends of the bell cranks 90 and extend into the path of the surfaces 87 and drive the cranks 90A, C and D in a counter clockwise direction to a point that is beyond their normal latch positions. After the punched hole 5 passed the sensing brush 46, the magnet 114 was de-energized thereby releasing the armature 111A and allowing the latter to return to its normal position under compulsion of its spring 113. The bell cranks 95A, C and D, are thereby released and are returned to their normal positions under compulsion of their springs 103 where the lugs 98 engage the lugs 99 of the cranks 90A, C and D and latch the latter cranks in their normal positions. It will be noted that there is not sufiicient room between the upper point of the lugs 99 and the lower unnotched edge of the slide 76 to accommodate the lugs 98. For that reason, an extra notch 144, as shown in Fig. 7 is placed at the right of each slide section A, B, C and D to receive the lug 98 momentarily as the latter is cammed upwardly by the lug 99 when the crank 90 is driven counterclockwise by the lugs 87.

After the bell cranks 90 have been latched in their normal positions and the slides 68 and 76 have been fully returned to the left, a second read and print cycle commences. The continuously moving punched card reaches the second read station and the slides 68 and 76 again move to. the right in synchronism with the sensing of the even numbered columns of the card by the sensing brushes 47 to set up the code slides 76.

It will be noted that all of the odd numbered 9s are set up first, then the odd 8's, odd 7s and so on down to the odd Os.

6 Type strip shifting mechanism Referring to Figs. 3 and 10, a bevel gear 151 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 53 and meshes with a bevel gear 152 to drive a shaft 153 that is mounted on the frame 57 by bracket and bearing members 154. A cam 156 is fixed to the shaft 153 and functions to shift the type element strips 134 alternately to adjacent odd and even print columns.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 and especially to Fig. 10, a frame consisting of end pieces 157 and cross pieces 158 is slidably mounted atop the frame pieces 57 by means of two bolts 159 and elongated slots 160. The frame is generally designated 61. The cross pieces 158 are affixed to the end pieces 15] by screws 162 and the slidable frame is biased to the front, as seen in Fig. 10 by springs 163. The springs 163 are recessed in holes bored in the rear frame 57 and act on lugs 164 fixed to the cross pieces 1'58. The frame 161 is shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, by the action of the high dwell of the cam 156 on a cam follower 166 that is mounted on the frame 161 for positioning the print elements in the odd numbered columns and is returned to the right by the action of the springs 163, the cam follower 166 and the low dwell of the cam 156 for positioning the print elements in the even numbered columns.

A row of studs 167, shown in Figs. 5 and 10, extend from the upper surface of each cross piece 158. The studs are equally spaced and are adapted to guide the type element strips 134 and to aid in shifting the strips 134 laterally to alternate columns when the frame 161 is shifted.

After all of the odd column code slides 76 are set up and the frame 161 is shifted laterally to position the type element strips 134 in the odd printing columns, the print hammer 222 that spans all of the print columns is actuated to print, simultaneously, all of the characters for which code slides 76 have been set up. The slides 68 and 76 are then returned to the left and the even numbered columns of the same card are read and selected type elements are set up as described hereinbefore. The print elements are shifted to the right to the even numbered print positions and the print hammer 222 is actuated a second time.

In columns that are to be left blank, as between columns of numbers, the strips 134 remain in their normal positions wherein none of the print elements are positioned at the print line, as indicated at a point 146 in Fig. 9, and when the print hammer 222 is actuated, the desired columns are left blank.

EXAMPLE Assume that the following line of figures is to be printed:

Step#1 5 52 6 49 2 Step #2 0 09 5 5 9 Steps-#1 and2 5052096549529183124 It is apparent, from the foregoing example, that an entire line may be printed in two steps, each step comprising the setup of print elements and the actuation. of a print hammer which spans the entire print line.

Paper feeding mechanism Referring to Figs. 2, 6, 10 and 11, a platen 168 is rotatably mounted by supports 169 that are fixed to the frames 57 by bolts 170. A platen shaft 171, shown in Figs. 2 and 11, carries a ratchet wheel 172. A bevel gear 173 is fixed tothe shaft 153 and meshes with a bevel :gear 174 that is fixed to a shaft 176, shown in Fig. 10, and is journaled in one frame piece '57. The shaft 176 carries a cam 177 that operates a cam follower slide 178 that is slidably mounted on the frame 57 by studs 179 and slots d d-ll. The slide 178 carries a cam roller 182 and is biased to the right by springs 183. The slide 178 has two ratchet pawls 184 and 186 that are pivotally mounted thereon. The ratchet pawl 184 is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 187 and engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 172. During each revolution of the shaftr176, the cam follower 178 is shifted to the left by alhigh dwell of the cam 17'] and, through the pawl 184, effects one unit of line spacing. When the roller 132 drops-to the low dwell of the cam 177, the cam follower 178 and the pawl 1S4 return to their normal positions and the pawl 84 takes anew purchase on the ratchet wheel:172 preparatory tothe next spacing operation.

Ribbon spacing mechanism Referring to Fig. 6, two ribbon spools 194 are pivotally mounted on brackets T96 afiixed to the frames '7. The righthand ribbon spool 194 has a bevel gear 197 afiixed to its top flange. The gear 197 meshes with a bevel gear 1% that is mounted on a shaft 1% rotatably mounted inthe framed"). The shaft 2% carries-a ratchet wheel 201 that is similar tothe ratchet wheel 172. Referring to Fig. 11, the pawl 1536 is spring biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 202 and engages the teeth of theratchet wheel 2'51 to effect a unit of ribbon movement during each rotation of the earn 177 in 'a manner similar'to that in which the line spacing is accomplished as described hereinbefore.

Two ribbon guide pegs 2% are mounted on the frame 161 as shown in Figs.6 and 10, for aligninga print ribbon 2&9 adjacent the platen 163 at the print position.

Hammer mechanism Referring to Figs. 5 and lb, a shaft 216 is journaled in the side frames 57 andcarries two print hammer arms 21'] that are biased in a counterclockwise direction .by springs llfifastened to studs 219 that in turn are fixed in the frames 57. The hammer arms 217 normally are held against stop studs 223i fixed in the frame members 57. Abevel gear 225 is fixed to the end of the shaft .153, as shown in Fig. 10, and meshes with a bevel gear 224 fixed toa shaft 225 thatis journaled in the side frames 57. The shaftm carries two cams 227 that engage the print hammer arms 217. The cams 227 actuate the print hammer once during each revolution of the shaft 226. The print hammer arms 217 are connected by a print iamrner-222 that is rubber padded. When the high points of a cam 227 engage the print hammer arms 217, the latter are pivoted in a clockwise direction thrusting the rubber padded bar 222 forcibly against the backs of the selected type elements thereby driving the type elements against the type'ribbon 289 and a record sheet 7.28.

Circuit description Referring to Fig. l, the motor 1 is started by closing a main line switch 23'i'that' connects the lines 232 and 233 to a power supply. Normally open start key contacts 23 3- are closed momentarily completing a circuit from the line 232 through a pick coil 1 5%? of themagnet 16 to the line 233 thereby engaging the clutch 7. A relay point 16Zl that is operated by the magnet 1.6 completes ahold circuitfrom the. ine 232 through normally closed stop key contacts 237, the relay point i 5-1 and a hold coil 164-1 of the magnet 16, to the line 233. The clutch 7 may be disengaged by depressin the stop key thereby breaking the circuit to the hold coil hi -H tie-energizing the magnet 16.

'Means are provided to prevent shortingthe brushes t-Sand on the respective contact rolls and 32 beand tween "cards and "when a card is not present in the sonsing station. Means are'provided also to make and break the sensing circuits' at a point other than at the brushes ifiand '47 to prevent arcing and burning of the brushes. Means are also'provided to connect the rolls and 3 to'the line 232 alternately since only one roll is used at any onetime.

A cam 238 is driven from the shaft 23 through one of the bevel gears 37 and a bevel gear 239 and has a high dwell and a 180 low dwell that operate open and close two sets of contacts 242 and 243 alter nately by means of a cam follower arm 244 that is biased against the earn 238 by a spring 24 6. Between each of the sets-of contacts 242 and and their respective contact rolls and 42, cam contacts 248 are inserted that are operated by a cam 249 that is driven from the shaft 23 through one of the bevel gears 41 and a bevel gear 250. The gear ratio is such that the cam 2.4-? is rotated at twice the speed of the cam 23%. The lobes on the cam 249 are-shaped and positioned to make the contacts 248 after the brushes 46 or 47 have contacted the rolls '38 or 42 through each punched hole and to break before the brushes break contact with the roll as each role progresses past the brushes. Pairs of normal y open card lever contacts 251 and are inserted tween the contacts 243 and the respective contact rolls 38 and 42. Contacts 251 or '252 are closed only when a card is present in the corresponding sensing station. A 'circuitis maintained continuously from the card lever contacts 251 and 252 to the respective contact rolls 33 and 42 through'brushes 23a and 253 When :1 ch it is completed from the line 232 to the contact roll and from the roll '38 through a punched hole, for example, to the brush 46for column 1, a circuit is then completed through an attached line 256, a rectifier 258 and the column.1colurnn 2 magnet 11.4 as shown in Fig. 1 to the line 233. The magnet 114 actuates the associated unit 65 to set up the appropriate type element as described hereinbefore. When the card advances to the second station, the same magnet 114 will be energized through a line 26b and a rectifier 262 upon the sensing of a hole in column 2 toractuate the same unit as and the same type element strip 134 as was used for the set-up for column ll. Similarly, each unit 65 and each strip 13d is common to a pair of adjacent print columns.

Timing chart 'The'printer operates on a 32 point cycle. Referring to'the 'timing'chart shown in Fig. 12, the chart cornrnences at the left 'hand side with the last two cycle points of the previous card cycle. During cycle points 31 and '32 the type-strips are in their previous printing position to the right, the slides'68 and 76 have completed their restoring movements to the left, the record is fed one spaceas is the ribbon. The cam contacts 2 .2 close and the contacts 24-3 open. When a card enters the reading station, the card lever contacts 2251 close and as the card progresses under the brushes 46, the cam contacts 248 make and break once during each cycle point. T numericspositions of all of the odd numbered columns are sensed serially from nine through zero. A brush contact is made through each hole in the odd numbered card columns.

'During cycle point 9, while the 1 positions of the card are being sensed, the type strips 134 are shifted laterally, as described hereinbefore, to occupy the odd numbered print positions. After the sensing of the O position of the card during cycle point 10, the type element strips are positioned longitudinally by the action of the'slide 68 and the associated mechanism in Pig. 5 as described hereinbefore. During cycle point 13 the print hammer 222'is actuated. During cycle points l4, l5 and 16 the slides 68 an'd'76 are restored to the left and the set-up mechanisms 65 are restored to normal.

During cycle point 15, the cam contacts 24-2 break and the contacts 243 make preparatory to the sensing of the even numbered columns of the same card at the second read station. During cycle points 17 through 26, the odd numbered numeric positions are sensed serially from nine through zero, as described hereinbefcr for the even numbered numeric positions at the first reading station With the cam contacts 248 making and breaking as described. During cycle point 25, the type element strips 134 are shifted laterally to the even numbered print columns. After cycle point 26 the type element strips are shifted longitudinally to position the selected type elements at the print line and at cycle point 29 the print hammer is again actuated. During cycle points 30, 31 and 32, the slides 68 and 76 are restored to the left. During cycle point 31, the contacts 243 break and the contacts 242 make preparatory to the sensing of the odd numbered columns of a second card at the first read station.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A serial-parallel printer comprising, in combination, a plurality of sets of character print elements; means for positioning differentially selected elements of said sets of character print elements in alignment With a print line at alternate print positions; first and second means, alternately operable, for actuating said positioning means; means for shifting said plurality of sets of character print elements, as a group, alternately to odd numbered and to even numbered print positions; and printing means, operable each time character print elements are aligned along said print line, for imprinting said aligned characters along said print line.

2. A serial-parallel printer comprising, in combination, a plurality of means for sensing a group of columns comprising alternate columns of a character designation hearing record; a plurality of means for sensing a group of columns comprising alternate columns of said record intermediate first said alternate columns; a plurality of sets of character print elements; means controlled by either of said plurality of sensing means for differentially positioning elements of said plurality of sets of character print elements at alternate print positions along a print line in accordance With designations sensed in one of said groups of columns; means for shifting control from one of said plurality of sensing means to the other of said plurality of sensing means for differentially positioning elements of said plurality of sets of character print elements at alternate print positions along said line intermediate first said alternate print positions in accordance with designations sensed in the other of said groups of alternate columns; and means for actuating a print hammer each time said differentially selected elements are aligned at alternate positions along said print line.

3. A cyclically operable, serial-parallel printing machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of sets of character print elements; means for causing differentially selected ones of said character print elements to be positioned at alternate print positions along a print line; cyclically operable means for shifting said plurality of sets of character print elements laterally as a group to alternate print positions intermediate first said alternate print positions; means for causing differentially selected ones of said character print elements to be positioned at said intermediate alternate positions; and means operable after each of said positioning operations for imprinting said selected characters along said print line.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein said cyclically operable, laterally shifting means comprises a single supporting frame for said sets of print elements and a constantly rotating cam adapted to oscillate said frame for shifting said sets of elements first to one and then to the other of aforesaid alternate positions in timed relationship with the aforesaid element selecting, positioning and printing operations.

5. A printing machine comprising, in'combination, a platen; record feeding means; an ink carrier; a print hammer; a plurality of sets of character print elements; means for sensing alternate columns of a record card; means for sensing alternate columns of a record card intermediate first said alternate columns; means alternately operable by first and second sensing means for differentially selecting elements in said plurality of sets of character print elements in accordance with data sensed in alternate columns of a record card; means for longitudinally shifting said sets of character print elements for aligning said selected elements along a print line in alternate print positions adjacent said platen; means for transferring control of said difierentially selecting means alternately to first said sensing means and second said sensing means; means for shifting said sets of character print elements laterally as a group for alternately assuming first alternate print positions and alternate print positions intermediate said first alternate print positions; and means for actuating said print hammer after each element aligning operation.

6. A serial-parallel printer comprising, in combination, means for sensing a record for character designations, said means comprising a plurality of sensing means forming a first sensing station adapted for sensing alternate columns of said record and a plurality of sensing means forming a second sensing station adapted for sensing alternate columns of said record intermediate first said alternate columns; means for feeding a record past said sensing stations; a plurality of sets of character print elements; a platen; record feeding means; print element inking means; print impressing means; means alternately controllable from said first and said second sensing stations for differentially selecting character print elements in said plurality of sets of elements; means for shifting said control to said first and said second sensing stations -alternately; means for shifting said sets of elements longitudinally differential distances for aligning said selected elements along a print line adjacent said platen; means for alternately shifting said sets of elements laterally as a group, coincidently With said control shifting, for assuming alternate print positions and intermediate alternate print positions along said print line; and means for actuating said print impressing means following each element aligning operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,526 Ennis July 28, 1903 1,054,582 Marchthal Feb. 25, 1913 1,785,999 Bryce Dec. 23, 1930 1,811,133 Kleinschmidt June 23, 1931 1,817,501 Weinlich Aug. 4, 1931 1,863,098 Borel a June 14, 1932 1,932,914 Shelton Oct. 31, 1933 2,047,505 Hausheer July 14, 1936 2,080,649 Breitling May 18, 1937 2,496,686 Williams Feb. 7, 1950 2,624,273 Wheeler Jan. 6, 1953 

